"Pilot": 12-17-08

INT. SHIP'S CONFERENCE ROOM

Medium shot of Rusty standing to one side, looking somewhat smug. Devereux and Hope are visible on the viewscreen.

HAWKES
Are you serious, Captain?

DEVEREUX
Unfortunately, Lieutenant.

HAWKES
Will you be sending the shuttle?

DEVEREUX
(slight frown)
I'd prefer not to. Sending it there and back increases the chances that it will be detected.

HAWKES
(matter-of-factly)
An escape pod.

Reaction shot of Rusty as he hears the suggestion. He is more than startled, not entirely convinced the others are serious.

DEVEREUX
(nods)
Exactly! There would be plenty of room for the Chief and his equipment.

RUSTY
(a little excitedly)
Excuse me! (steps away from the bulkhead) The Chief is rather fond of his equipment and would like to keep it together and in one piece.

Hawkes regards Rusty without a change in expression. Devereux stares at him from the viewscreen, trying hard not to crack a small smile.

HOPE
Life support is more than adequate.

DEVEREUX
They're designed for carry up to eight people for several weeks, if necessary. The hulls are designed to handle reentry orbits.

RUSTY
Okay, this is just one option. There's other ideas . . . (looks around)

DEVEREUX
I'm certainly willing to listen to other proposals.

Rusty, Hawkes, and Hope exchange silent glances. Hawkes' and Hope's expressions are unreadable. Rusty's expression borders on pleading.

DEVEREUX (CONT'D)
I'm listening.

Silence answers her.

RUSTY
Now wait a minute . . . You don't want to use the shuttle because it might attract attention. (beat) You don't think someone might notice an escape pod plummeting dirtside . . .

HAWKES
(nods)
You will have propulsion and guidance systems.

RUSTY
(stares)
And that won't get noticed how?

HAWKES
(calmly)
It will have to be carefully planned. (to Devereux) Its power systems cannot support a camouflage field.

DEVEREUX
That's a problem. Even if they think it's just a meteorite, they'll still track it. (beat) How likely are they to do more than just track?

HAWKES
It will likely depend on how curious they become. (beat) Landing it in the ocean would greatly decrease any changes of it accidentally being discovered before it self-destructs.

RUSTY
(alarmed)
Self-destructs?!

HAWKES
We can't take the chance it might get discovered at a later time.

RUSTY
And how am I supposed to get back?

DEVEREUX
There's room in the shuttle.

Rusty glances around at the faces around the room and displayed on the screen.

RUSTY
Where? The cargo bay?

Devereux gives him a mildly sharp look, but it is also evident that she is trying not to laugh.

DEVEREUX
If there's room. Otherwise, we'll have to secure you to the hull.

Rusty is not amused.

DEVEREUX (CONT'D)
I think we're going to have to rely on some luck here, gentlemen.

Neither Hawkes nor Rusty look comfortable with that statement.

DEVEREUX (CONT'D)
Work out a plan and report back in two hours.

HAWKES
Yes, Captain.

DEVEREUX
Devereux out.

The viewscreen goes blank.

Rusty gives Hawkes a dubious look.

RUSTY
She can't be serious?

Hawkes stares evenly back at Rusty.

HAWKES
(flatly)
The Captain has given us our orders.

RUSTY
(rolls eyes)
Oh boy.

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